Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-05-14
The Country Drug Store.

Tid.bits. ~
The drug clerk is alone. His
employer has gone to tho city to
buy stock. There has not been d Gus
toner in the store for more than an
hour. The drug clerk feels lonesome.
He gazes pensively out at the deserted
Village street, and muses. upon the
vanity OF all things here below. An
open book lies upon the counter be-
fore him. It is "Daniel Deronda."
SOMEBODY has advised the drug clerk
to read it, and he has been trying to
disappointed, for he began it under the
impression that it was a detective
story. 1t makes him sleepy.
The drug clerk is thing of beauty,
and is calculated to be Joy forever.
He wears a check suit. blue scarf
with large pin representing mortar
and pestle (suggestive OF his devotion
to business), and a very high collar,
His natural attractions are further en-
HANGED by a large amethyst ring upon
the little finger OF his right hand, and
a blonde bang which long and careful
training has reduced to q state OF
complete subsection.
But see! the expression of gloom up
on his face gives place to a sunny
smile. He sees a maiden coming up
the village street, and he knows that
the chances are very large that she
will not be able to get past the door,
He pulls down his cuffs, and assumes
what he believes to be an air of un-
studied grace. The door opens, she
enters, and the following dialogue en-
sues:
She-All alone, Cy?
He-Why! good afternoon, Addie.
Yes. things are rather quiet. Hain't
seen you for an age.
She-You saw me at church last
Sunday.
He with killing glance)-Well,
three days away from you seem an
age.
she-Cy Whitaker, you're getting
worse and worse!
Hell know / am. Guess you'll
have to undertake my cure. Hey?
Brief intermission for giggling.
See-What are you reading? "Dan-
iel Deronda." Do you like it?
He(guardedly)-Do you?
Shell think it's perfectly splendid.
Don't you?
He (promptly)-Periectly magnifi-
cent! Going to the Methodist tea
party tomorrow night?
She with scorn)-Me? No, sir;
don't mix with that set.
He-Kinder severe, amt you, Ad-
die? Some nice folks down to the
Methodist church.
She-O, yes, s'spose there are-the
Griswold girls, for instance. l heard
it said yesterday that the Griswolds
must be mighty unhealthy family.
judging from the number of times a
week those girls visit this store.
He Slightly hystericaD He! he! he.
Now, that amuses me. Who said it?
Shell shan't tell you.
He-Yes, do!
Shell won't.
He-WeIl, know who it was; it
was that Higgins girl.
She-Perhaps it was, and perhaps
it wasn't.
He ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS amt the
first time that that girl has tried to
make trouble between you and me.
But she can't influence me. And as
for the Griswold girls, you can judge
how much care for them, when tell
you that though they were around
here this morning urging me to go to
the tea-party, what you have said has
decided me not to attend it Assumes
an expression of tenderness.
She-I am sure it is a matter OF in
difference to me whether yougo or not.
He ignoring the remark ~ think,
l shall take in the concert at the Pres
any one to go with me.
She (unbending slightly)-Yous seem
in such demand that there ought not
to be any difficulty about that.
He-well, I'm a little particular
about my company; but if You would
accompany me
She-O, Cy! Fanny Berry will be
here; and W hat would she say? She'd
be Just wild!
He with dignity)-AIiss Berry's
opinions are matter OF perfect in
difference to me.
She-well, I'll go, Cy, and I'll wear
my plum-col ored silk, and you be sure
to call for me very early, and-O, my
goodness!
He-Why. what's the matter, Ad.
die?
She(in great agitation)-If forgot all
about it! Grandma has got one OF her
fits-a dreadful one, this time-and
ma sent me round here to get the per-
scription put up(producing bottle);
and forgot all about it, and poor
grandma may be dead by this time.
Do hurry and get the stuff ready, Cy!
The young man prepared the pre-
scription in about thirty seconds and
hurries his visitor of, .feigning great
solicitude for the neglected invalid.
And as Addie disappears round the
corner he murmurs:
"Just in time! In another minute
Susie Griswold would have been here"
Then he wipes his brow with silk
handker chief and adorns his features
in one of his fascinating smiles as he
turns to welcome Susie Griswold,
WHO enters and greets the conqueror
of all hearts with an illiassumed air
of Indifference. So rims the world